Review: Tigers Are Not Afraid (2019) + Q&A with Issa Lopez and Guillermo Del Toro

Tigers Are Not Afraid (2019) + Q&A with Issa Lopez and Guillermo Del Toro

Those that know me know that I essentially have a man crush on Guillermo Del Toro, and there is no doubt that he is one of my all-time favourite directors. And so, when I saw an ad for a special screening of the horror-fantasy film, Tigers Are Not Afraid, with a Q&A between director, Issa Lopez, and Del Toro, there was no hesitation that I had to go.

In all ways, the night did not let me down - it was exhilarating to see Lopez, a Mexican director like Del Toro, being able to screen a film that is so indebted to and inspired by all that Del Toro has done through his career, and then to be able to listen to an intimate conversation between the two directors, both of whom are so passionate about the genres of horror and fantasy, discussing the current landscape of cinema, as well as the precarious landscape of their home country Mexico. I had the pleasure of seeing Del Toro in person once in the past - at the TIFF premiere of The Shape of Water - and, once again, he was an absolute delight to listen to. He is a smart, funny, and impassioned individual, and I found that Lopez too was equally well-spoken and eloquent in her discussion and with a unique female perspective on all they discussed. These two directors come from a similar world and it shows through their films, their rhetoric and their inspirations - it was great hearing how one of the highest honours the directors have ever received was a personal message from Stephen King praising their films because, as expressly stated, he was a monumental inspiration to both of them.

Now, onto the film. Tigers Are Not Afraid is a modern day horror-filled fairy tale. It takes place in an unnamed city in Mexico, one that has been ravaged by and taken over by the drug trade-generated violence affecting so much of the country. Here, bloodshed and death is commonplace such to the extent that children are frequently left orphaned and forced to group together in 'gangs' of their own in order to survive. Estrella is one such child. One day she returns home to find that her mother has disappeared forcing her to seek shelter with a gang of orphaned boys run by one hardened boy named Shine. Together they fight to evade the gang members trying to find them and, all while Estrella is haunted by the ghost of her mother (and other fantastical creatures and elements). Overall, the film is both provocative and ambitious with a fervid message about the state of Mexico that it seeks to impart upon its audience. It is also an effective horror-fantasy tale, though certain elements in the film are less effective than others at hitting its mark. The children actors in the film are all remarkable and, in particular, the young actor and actress who play Estrella and Shine are astounding and it is difficult not to be moved by their performances and character's storylines.

For those that have seen it, Tigers shares many similarities to Del Toro's The Devil's Backbone. And like The Devil's Backbone, despite Tigers not being a perfect film, it is a testament to the talent and potential of newcomer Issa Lopez, and I have all the confidence that, like her director idol, she is going to have a long and successful career ahead and I cannot wait for the creation of her own Pan's Labyrinth in the future.